From Mr Brightside To Wembley . . . 10 Years Of The Killers

Since then, the band have gone on to become one of the most prominent and consistent bands of recent times; they rounded of a decade of 4 successful studio albums, countless awards and sold-out shows across the globe with a sold-out stadium slot at Wembley Stadium in June 2013.

Despite criticism that the band had booked a gig of this magnitude prematurely, they looked perfectly at home delivering an energetic, electrifying set in front of 90, 000 fans, reminding the world why we fell in love with them in the first place and why we still loved them just as much a decade on.

We look back at The Killers 10 finest moments to date . . .

Hot Fuss (2004)

The band’s 2004 debut dropped like a bomb, exploding across the UK music scene, claiming countless “victims” along the way. It spawned hit singles, “Somebody Told Me”, “Smile Like You Mean It” and anthem, “All These Things That I’ve Done. Easily one of the most exciting debut albums of the past 10 years, while still managing to sound as fresh and stimulating today as it did in 2004.

MTV Video Music Awards (2005)

The Killers performed “Mr Brightside” as part of 2005’s live VMA line-up; complete with an introductory party-scene, it gave us a glimpse of things to come on the live front with The Killers, and helped them on their way to the live band they are known and loved for today http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Wt7S9Nm8Bc

When You Were Young (2006)

“Hot Fuss” earned The Killers the title of “The Best British Band To Come From America”, due to the band’s obvious New Order, The Cure and The Smiths influences evident throughout their synth-driven debut. However, second album, “Sam’s Town” dropped in 2006 and gave birth to a whole new era of Killers; they had swapped the guyliner and glitter for moustaches and cowboy-inspired clobber. Lead single, “When You Were Young” gave a nod to Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers and was the first glimpse of a band who could adapt and amend with each new album http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ff0oWESdmH0

T In The Park (2007)

2007 saw The Killers headline festival for the very first time here in the UK. Despite Glastonbury taking place weeks before their stint at Balado, sound problems plagued their set at Worthy Farm and turned their should-be magic “Pyramid” moment turn into a wash-out. However, they got their moment in Scotland just a few short weeks later when they delighted over 80, 000 fans with a stellar show; the band have become a Balado favourite since and were voted by fans of the festival as the band most wanted to play T In The Park 2013, marking the festival’s 20th anniversary http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOQ048Eoua4

Collaborations With Tim Burton (2006 and 2012)

Wonderfully weird film Director, Tim Burton popped his music video cherry by directing The Killers, “Bones” in 2006. The gothic-inspired video was testament to the level of “thrills, chills and spills” expected from Burton and fans lapped it up. The Killers collaborated with Burton again in 2012 for the video for “Here With Me”, equally strange and sensational, starring Winona Ryder and Craig Roberts. The band also contributed to Burton’s “Dark Shadows” soundtrack with a cover of The Raspberries, “Go All The Way” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FufL80hJsP8

Human (2008)

After the open love letter to America that was “Sam’s Town”, it was back to drawing board for The Killers and a guessing game for fans and critics as to what the band would do next. Similarly to U2 with “Pop” in 1997, The Killers unashamedly and unapologetically embraced pop music and delivered, “Day & Age” in November 2008. First single, “Human” harked back to their synth-roots of “Hot Fuss” and caused massive controversy over the confusing lyrics, however, it saw the band take it to the next level and take their rightful place among the music heavyweights of recent times http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9aUnNjzfkME

Q Magazine marked the 20th anniversary of U2 masterpiece, “Achtung Baby” in October 2011 with tribute album, “Ahk-Toong Bay-Bi”, a collection of cover versions from Glasvegas, Garbage, Snow Patrol and Jack White. The Killers took on “Ultraviolet (Light My Way” and didn’t only match the original, it surpassed it, even U2 themselves said it was better than their original version http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNXsjs6ED5Y

Battle Born (2012)

The band announced they were going on “an indefinite hiatus” following the conclusion of their “Day & Age” tour in 2009, sparking rumours of a split, compunded further by frontman, Brandon Flowers’ solo album, “Flamingo” and drummer, Ronnie Vannucci Jr’s sideline project, Big Talk, released in 2010 and 2011 respectively. However, in September 2012, “Battle Born” arrived; The Killers were refreshed, rejuvenated and raring to go! The album paid tribute to big 80s power-choruses and spanwed the band’s most successful world-tour to date.

Wembley Stadium (June 2013)

The Killers rounded off 10 years at the top with their debut, stadium show at Wembley. Following in the footsteps of Queen, U2, Fleetwood Mac and Bruce Springsteen, to name but a very few. Their zesty set shushed those who said their booking the gig was “too soon” and even included a special tribute to the momentous venue with “The Wembley Song” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM3L7VRQALM

Just Another Girl (2013)

A brand new track taken from the band’s “greatest hits” compilation, “Direct Hits”, it’s not the greatest Killers song by far but deserves credit for the nostalgic nod to the band’s career to date. Starring Glee’s Dianna Agron as Brandon Flowers, this video travels from the early shimmy of “Somebody Told Me” through to Spingsteen-esque, “When You Were Young” before stopping off at leather-clad, “Runaways” and Tim Burton-directed, “Bones”. A dewey-eyed stroll down Las Vegas Boulevard http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BwzP1laWkQ